Broken Future - An Alternate View On Government Cuts

Many people feel that the government has turned their back on them due to the massive cuts. On Saturday 26 March there will be a protest against the government’s cuts. This will see the UK’s biggest single protest since the anti-Iraq war march in 2003. Many people around the country will travel to London and make their voices heard at their anger of government’s cuts. The march will begin from London’s Victoria Embankment between Waterloo and Blackfriars Bridges at 12:00pm.

The cuts are absolutely ridiculous; they seem to be killing off young people when they are the future of the society. This is what, I think, the government doesn’t seem to realize.

My brother is due to begin university in September. He will be studying English Literature; his mind is set on going to university this year. To some extent I’m worried about the amount of debt he will be in at the end of his degree. Will there even be enough jobs available for university graduates?

I’m still considering going university, there is a lot I’d like to learn and there is no social life like university. But I have always been put off by the tuition fees – even before they put up the fees. I find university life rather interesting and it’s quite heart-breaking that I may have to forget about going to university all together because I’ll be drowning in debt by the time I graduate.

I know a few people that have dropped out of college because of the EMA (Education Maintenance Allowance) cuts and also the rise of tuition fees, they feel that it isn’t worth going to university and getting themselves in larges sums of debt. I know many young people were only attending college because of EMA but I suppose they could have come up with a better alternative rather than calling the whole thing to a close.

What I’m mostly upset about is them getting rid of the FJF Future Jobs Fund. My brother got his first job through the Future Jobs Fund and although the contract was only for 6 months, he got the skills and experience he needed that will attract potential employers. Now it is going to be tougher than it was before for young people with little or no experience to find employment. This is what happens when the government tries to fix something that isn’t broken. They are supposed to be creating more opportunities not taking them away.

Just because of the government, people should not give up on their dreams; there are other options than just going to university. This is the chance for people to think and be more aware about what is out there. There are apprenticeships where it is possible to earn money while gaining essential skills required in a working environment and I’m sure there are more choices out there.

Despite the government, my family still remain optimistic and believe that something better will come along. There is always an option. The cuts have made me think about how much we take for granted.  

By Lee Andrew

Spending Review - What It Means To You

The Spending Review was the single most radical shake up in recent years in politics. but all the theatrics and bleating from within the walls of parliament aside, what does all these big budget cuts mean for us young people? in this blog we will pick some of the key sectors that we at Evolution NOW think will effect you.

And even show you the silver lining...

The Proposed Cuts will take place over the next 10 years and total to the amount of £81 Billion.


Communities and local government - Current Budget: £28.5 Billion - Cut: £6 Billion

Local councils are being urged By Eric Pickles to merge services and streamline buying of goods. Provisionally this means less digging up of roads and local improvements - but this could mean when the winter has passed this year, given last years deep freeze, we could be stuck with severely damaged roads and walkways but no money to repair them.

Culture, Media and Sport - Current Budget: £1.4 Billion - Cut: £0.2 Billion

These cuts are mainly going do be administrative promises the Secretary of State for culture, Jeremy Hunt. How will this effect London 2012 games? not at all as this budget will be maintained to ensure a successful delivery.

Education -Current Budget: £58.4 Billion - Cut: £1.2 Billion

Michael Gove's budget maybe going down but he is considered a winner for protecting the budget for schools which will help disadvantaged children. But ultimately, will cutting back on education hurt the economy in the long run as tuition fees are set to rise?

Environment, Food and Rural Affairs - Current Budget: £2.9 Billion - Cut: £0.7 Billion

Considered one of the biggest losers in all the cuts, Caroline Spelman is forced to re-prioritise spending, focusing on British farming and food production. Could these cuts spell the end of British made products such as those advertised by Morrisons?

Energy and Climate Change - Current Budget: £2.9 Billion - Rise: £0.8 Billion

Chris Huhne Is one of the few who see a rise in his spending over the next four years. This is to ensure as a country we stay on course to cut greenhouse gasses and raise our usage of renewable energy sources. With renewable energy, this will eventually mean lower energy bills for us all.

Health - Current Budget: £103.8 Billion - Rise: £10.6 Billion

Andrew Lansley Benefited hugely from the Tory pledge to raise the NHS budget. The Secretary of State for health will see a rise of £2 Billion per year leading up to 2014/15, whilst a £200 Million cancer drugs fund will be set up. No matter how severe cuts elsewhere are, the NHS is still at the forefront of the coalitions thoughts and this is great news.

Transport - Current Budget: £12.8 Billion - Cuts: £0.8 Billion

Phil Hammond Maintains that bus travel for the elderly will remain free. That's the only good news here as in 2012 - train fares are set to rise 3% above the rate of inflation to pay for the improvements and help ease overcrowding, which will become commonplace as the Olympics comes to town.

This is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg as fares will already become even more expensive, a single fare on a bus set to rise to a whopping £2.20. All these new fares - are they fair?

Other Good Spending Notes:

- Council tax is also set to be frozen for two years

- BBC TV License is set to be frozen for SIX years

-Free Museum entry protected

So when you're broke in less than two years time, you can always hire one of Boris' bikes and go to a museum...

By Lem Leon

Project Manager